Yuji Okumoto

Donald Yujiro Okumoto (born April 20, 1959) is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Chozen Toguchi in the film The Karate Kid Part II and its sequel television series Cobra Kai (2021–25).

He has also appeared in the films Better Off Dead, Real Genius (both 1985), True Believer (1989), American Yakuza (1993), Contact (1997), The Truman Show (1998), Pearl Harbor (2001), Only the Brave (2006), Inception (2010) and Driven (2018).

Early life was born to Japanese parents Yoshiharu and Yemiko Okumoto in Los Angeles on April 20, 1959. His father was a Japanese immigrant who worked as a short-order cook and later a gardener in Los Angeles after World War II, and his mother was born in America, making Okumoto both a Nisei and a Sansei.

He began karate at age 13, studying under various sensei. By the time of The Karate Kid Part II, the 27-year-old Okumoto held a brown belt in Karate, and had learned basic skills in other martial arts, including Taekwondo and Judo. His Judo Instructor was Hayward Nishioka, his Chitō-ryū Karate Sensei was Yukinori Kugimiya, his Kajukenbo Instructor was Sensei Ron Takaragawa, and his Yau Kung Moon Sifu was Kevin Quock.

He graduated from Hollywood High School and Cal State Fullerton, where he studied acting. Perhaps his most well-known role is as Daniel's rival, Chozen Toguchi in the 1986 film, The Karate Kid Part II.

In 2021, Okumoto reprised his Karate Kid II role as Chozen Toguchi, who, beginning with Season 3 of Cobra Kai, is now a friend and ally of Daniel.

Restauranter In 2002, Okumoto, together with his wife and mother-in-law, opened a Hawaiian restaurant called Kona Kitchen in Maple Leaf, Seattle. A second location opened in Lynnwood, Washington in 2019.

Personal life Okumoto lives in Seattle, Washington, with his wife Angela Okumoto (née Mar) and their three daughters.

Okumoto said he believes "Perfectionism is the death of good acting."

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1985 Crime Killer Vietnam Soldier Real Genius Fenton Better Off Dead Yee Sook Ree 1986 The Check Is in the Mail... Bellboy The Karate Kid Part II Chozen Toguchi 1988 Aloha Summer Kenzo Konishi 1989 True Believer Shu Kai Kim 1991 3×3 Eyes Chou / Transvestite #2 (voice) English dub 1992 Nemesis Yoshiro Han 1993 Silent Cries Mickey Uncredited Robot Wars Chou-Sing Brainsmasher... A Love Story Wu American Yakuza Kazuo 1994 Bloodfist V: Human Target Tommy Blue Tiger Lieutenant Sakagami Red Sun Rising Yuji 1995 Hard Justice Jimmy Wong 1995 3×3 Eyes: Legend of the Divine Demon Naparva (voice) English dub 1997 Blast FBI Agent Mean Guns Hoss Contact Electrical The Game Nikko Hotel Manager 1998 The Truman Show Japanese Family Man Sorcerers Secretary 2000 Fortress 2: Re-Entry Sato I'll Remember April Matsuo Yomma 2001 Pearl Harbor Zenji Abe Ticker Embassy Consul 2005 The Crow: Wicked Prayer 'Pestilence' 2006 Big Momma's House 2 Parsons Only the Brave Sergeant Yukio 'Yuk' Nakajo End Game Dr. Lee 2007 Cookies for Sale Grumpy Man Short 2008 Mask of the Ninja Nikano 2008 Touch Ken Short 2009 Black Coffee David Anatomy of a Fly Politician 2010 Inception Saito's Attendant 2014 Awesome Asian Bad Guys Yuji 2015 Beta Test The Surgeon 2017 Unspoken: Diary of an Assassin Unknown 2018 Driven Judge Takasugi Ultra Low Yuji 2020 The Paper Tigers Wing Also producer2025The Cobra Kai Movie Part IIHimself Short

Television Year Title Role Notes 1986 T. J. Hooker Howie Kalanuma Episode: "Blood Sport" 1987 Simon & Simon Masaki Episode: "Desperately Seeking Dacody" 1988 Hunter Jimmy 2 episodes 1990 Murder in Paradise Unknown Television film Only One Survived Peter Fujko Television film Midnight Caller Lee Minh Episode: "Home to Roost" 1991 American Playhouse Teruo Kuroda Episode: "Hot Summer Winds"1991–953×3 EyesNaparva, Chou, Yakumo's Coworker (voices)English dub 1991–93 Knots Landing Art Nam 6 episodes 1994 Menendez: A Killing in Beverly Hills Lester Kuriyama Television film 1995 Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Chen Chow Episode: "Chi of Steel" Vanishing Son Nguyen Episode: "Holy Ghosts" Murder, She Wrote Kim Huan Episode: "Murder a la Mode" 1996 Kindred: The Embraced Lieutenant Kwan 2 episodes Superman: The Animated Series Security Guard Voice, episode: "A Little Piece of Home"

Video games Year Title Voice role 1995 Johnny Mnemonic: The Interactive Action Movie Shinji 2001 Throne of Darkness Swordsman 2003 True Crime: Streets of LA Additional voices 2022Cobra Kai 2: Dojos RisingChozen Toguchi